Tough decisions and tough conversations await. Lakers coach Byron Scott and Kobe Bryant will discuss further reducing his workload and minutes for the sake of elevating his play while preserving his health.

Bryant may even sit out when the Lakers (8-19) host the Golden State Warriors (22-3) on Tuesday at Staples Center. But where does that leave everybody else?

“We have to be able to bounce back from anything he’s doing as far as if he’s going to play or not going to play,” Lakers guard Ronnie Price said. “Or if he’s feeling well or not feeling well. We can’t let that affect everyone else. We have to continue to do our job, no matter what.”

If only it were that easy.

No one on the Lakers would argue they are better off with Bryant. But his team-leading 24.6 points per game average has come on a career-low 33.5 percent shooting.

“He’s tired, man,” Lakers forward Jordan Hill said. “He’s trying to go out there and give it his all and help win some games.”

The Lakers’ plus-minus rating, a statistic that measures a lineup’s efficiency, also suggests the team plays better without Bryant. L.A. has yielded a (-)13.3 rating when he plays as opposed to a (+) 11.1 when Bryant sits. Bryant’s teammates have not explicitly faulted him, and have cited other factors pertaining to defense and hustle plays.

“We have to buy into the system and be on the same page and communicate,” Lakers guard Jeremy Lin said. “Having a strong will to get it done and unselfishness is contagious. When you play for each other and want everybody to succeed, its’ awesome.”

Short and sweet

The Lakers ended practice early on Monday because of an unexpected development.

Hill made a half-court shot.

“I practice it on every day,” joked Hill, who said Nick Young airballed his attempt. “I’m trying to get better in every aspect in my game.”

Scott said he gave his players a chance to cut practice for one specific reason.

“It saved them about 30 minutes of being on their feet,” Scott said. “So it saved them some rest so they can run around with Golden State.”

Tis the season

Young received an early Christmas present on Monday. Iggy Azalea, Young’s girlfriend and hip hop artist, gave Young a blue 1962 Chevrolet Impala that was waiting outside the Lakers’ facility.

The gift featured a red bow and a note that read “To: Swaggy P. From Iggy.”

Mark Medina has been the Lakers beat writer for the Los Angeles Daily News since 2012. He also works as a Lakers insider for AM570 and is heard on national radio outlets, including The Dan Patrick Show, The Herd with Colin Cowherd, The Chris Mannix Show, Fox Sports Radio, CBS Sports Radio, Yahoo! Sports Radio and SB Nation Radio. Medina also appears frequently on Spectrum SportsNet and NBC4's "Going Roggin."